January 28, 2014

2014 is a BIG year for me. My cookbook - that has felt a lot like a third child with a 30 month gestation - will finally be in stores this August. Just last week, I was in NY meeting with my incredible editor and friend, Elissa Altman, talking about the book, making plans for the year, and the adventure that lies ahead.

Making this book has been such a heartfelt, private undertaking - the cooking, tasting, writing, shooting have all has happened in our quiet Berkeley kitchen. It's hard for me to believe that before long, this personal book will be a very public thing. The recipes, which we continue to cook all the time, will no longer be just at our table - they can be at yours too. I can't even tell you the thrill I get when I imagine you cooking these dishes I love.

And I'm so curious which recipes you'll try. Will it be the Fish Tacos with Pomegranate Salsa? Millet Crepes {sweet or savory}? Baked Eggs on a Bed of Cherry Tomatoes? Watercress Salad with Balsamic Cherries? Spaghetti Dinner with Rainbow Chard, Bacon and Cream? Pistachio Orange Sugar Cookies? Cucumber Gimlets? I can't wait to find out.

In the meantime, let's talk about today's delicious soup. When I saw January's issue of Bon Appétit, I felt like the BA staff had read my mind, or maybe even peeked into my kitchen. I don't know about you, but I wanted to cook every recipe in the magazine, pronto! The issue is bursting with easy, healthful recipes that don't feel at all diet-y...just my kind of food... clean, flavor-packed dishes that nourish in a deep way. This Spicy Pork Soup with Kale and Rice Noodles totally satisfies - it's quick enough for a weeknight supper, packed with leafy greens, infused with spice, while adding just the right amount of pork for flavor and protein.

Erin - this soup looks and sounds simply divine! With chilly nights and hopefully rain on the way, what a perfect dinner in a bowl. So excited for your new book and will definitely be buying a copy and coming to your local book signing. Love to meet in person! Have a terrific week !!!! Lisa

I am SO excited for your book to come out. Will it be available in the UK? I didn't think your photos could get more beautiful but the ones in this post are simply stunning - big hoorays all round! :-)

Erin,Wonderful pictures and the soup looks fabulous as I try to work Kale into my food as much as I can. Its just so darn healthy for you. Best of luck with your wonderful new book. I look forward to seeing it at the bookstore. Deep Breath........now let go.

Congratulations on your very big year and book release! I can't even imagine the amount of work that goes into a cookbook. Especially if you're the writer, recipe-tester AND photographer! Amazing, amazing, the cover is gorgeous, the recipes already sound so mouth-watering!

I dare to say that you made this soup prettier than the BA cover.... beautiful! Glad the recipe has your stamp of approval, now I really want to try it :)

The book really was a huge undertaking, I lived ate, breathed the book for well-over a year, but I have to admit that I've never had more fun. I loved the challenge of juggling all of the different elements... If I felt stuck with the writing, I'd go cook. If I felt stuck on the photos, I'd go write....

Dear Erin, congratulations! The cover looks beautiful and I can't wait to get my hands on your book!Watercress salad with balsamic cherries... mmm it will be good..!Will it become available on amazon uk as well? It's closer to ship that the US to the Netherlands.

Erin, I'm so excited for you! I can't wait to have a copy of your book in my kitchen! This soup is right up my alley - on these cold winter nights I need a little tonic for the soul. Thank you, and have a great weekend :)

Hey there Sam:)I use a Canon Mark II with a variety of lenses... Mostly the 50mm 1.2. But Canon also makes a wonderful Canon 50 1.8 which is inexpensive and fantastic! And yes, I mostly use Lightroom for my processing.Wishing you happy shooting Sam,Erin

Congrats to you! I bet it must feel like such a great sense of accomplishment to have all the book editing done now. I know it was for me when I did my book last year. I can't wait to leaf through yours and salivate over all the incredible recipes.

I loved that issue of BA, too, for all the same reasons. Love this soup! And so happy for you, and your book--it looks amazing, and I am sure it *is* amazing. I hope this means you get to rest a little now? xoj!

Julia, wasn't it a great issue? They so captured what I most love to cook... simple, whole ingredients, healthful, delish. They are spot-on these days!And thanks for the kindness about my book. It means a lot to me:)xoxoE

I am so excited for your cookbook! I just know it is going to be a friendly, smiling, happy feast of a book to add to my collection. It will make our mealtimes come alive in the way I envision yours do, over there in sunny Cali:)

Oh, this soup sounds so delicious. I don't eat meat so I'm thinking I need to try it with an assortment of vegetables (mushrooms, zucchini, etc.). I'm lusting over that beautiful speckled bowl and am also counting down the days until your cookbook is released. August can't come soon enough.

This soup sounds super delicious to me lately as i've been on a major rice noodle kick! What do you think about the idea of substituting ground turkey for the pork - do you think it would really alter the flavor?

Hi Erin, I tried the recipe last night with ground turkey and it was really yummy! (it took me a while to find sichuan peppercorns but because of the search, i came across a brand new store dedicated to all sorts of spices in my neighborhood!) I felt like it needed like a punch of something either vinegary or something... and ended up putting a small dollop of thai chili garlic paste to mix in. TWO THUMBS UP! Thanks again for this recipe!